Problems with new Coachman VIP

"What caravans are you referring to ocsid?"

Our current 2008 Hymer Nova 546"S" and our previous 2002 Hymer Nova 454 both terminated the van's floor at an internal front bulkhead and have sheet alloy checker plate floors in the front lockers.

Our previous 1991 Castleton had the same internal bulkhead except the locker floor was just moulded GRP.

Plus our 1980s Gobur had a totally freestanding gas locker in front of the bodywork.

So in all cases the van's floor was not part of the front locker, I just see doing that as simply asking for problems.

A British built to a price practice then. Little wonder Hymer caravans are so expensive, nice vans and built to last.

Of all the vans we’ve owned, the Buccaneers have been the best for a dry front locker (all the Elddis bashers out there, they can sometimes do something right ) The panel at the front is considerable larger than the hole it covers and there’s a great big fat seal in place.

Bailey - its well know the side lockers if not sealed properly results in a damp floor

True, just traded my Unicorn S2 for a new Clubman SI...first thing the dealer looked at was inside the front side lockers for damp...says its a known issue. Fortunately there was none but would have been covered by existing warranty...

My 2014 460 VIP has no water ingress in the front locker Which Coachman is yours l believe 2017 onwards are a different front locker design. My previous van 2015 Clubman SB front locker was always wet after towing in the rain but like others said it had vents in the floor plus l don't think it was connected to the floor may be wrong and would stand to be corrected. Just been to the dealers to have some minor warranty work done while l was their had a look at the new Coachman VIP, looks a totally different design from mine. plus 25 K for the 460 VIP, oops ! that's pricey

Your front locker problem isnt a problem. They simply are not designed to be watertight. Front lockers with gas bottle storage needs gas drop holes as in your Coachman.  Not designed to be  watertight as gaps are all around the perimeter to facilitate ventilation. They will and do dry out as fast as they get wet. No cause for alarm.

Tj

i cant believe that external lockers 'arent meant to be waterproof'...

our gas locker (which can hold 2x13kg bottles) has a huge 'gas drop' slot in the bottom but is totally waterproof.

the locker door (like all other locker doors on the van) have been cut from the sidewall so are of the same construction (not the flimsy efforts Ive seen on many a budget van), fit perfectly, are double sealed against the weather and have proper locks.

there is no way this locker is designed to be damp and 'will dry out'.

everything about the construction is designed to keep the locker warm and dry, just like every other locker......

if it was running with water they could have it back.

perhaps caravans are different in that just about every post on here in the caravan section is about damp.....perhaps its the norm?

You don't seem to be familiar with the concept of gas lockers in caravans, BB. They are generally at the sharp end built on the A frame and very different from the sealed lockers you are used to. 

Way back when, caravans didn't have front lockers and the gas bottles were perched out on the A frame exposed to the elements (see my avatar - no nose cone). The modern day front gas locker is little more than a cover over said A frame.

well, im glad i dont have one of they're full of water....just like some of the other parts of said caravans judging by the threads in this section.

seems like half the caravan owners on here dont either, TW, as they expect them to be dry...and so would i.

what's the point of building a 'locker' including a (so called) 'seal' and then suggesting its perfectly fine for it to be full of water, bizarre.

You're obviously not meant to be a Caravanner, BB.

TW, you're probably (obviously) right....

though, no doubt JVB will tell you (and everyone else) that im a 'motor' caravanner